The Silvered Serpents is the second novel in The Gilded Wolves trilogy and it picks up not long after the close of the first novel. Each of those working with Séverin are struggling to deal with their feeling about the death of Tristan at the end of the first book. Laila blames herself for not having revealed the core of darkness that was eating Tristan alive. Zofia wonders what she might have done. Enrique feels distanced from Séverin even as he sees that Tristan's death is eating his friend alive inside. Hypnos dances around all of the no-longer-merry band he wanted to join, but always hovering on the edges of belonging. They are shadows of themselves, and Séverin especially begins to grow colder, harder, and angrier than the young man we met in the first book. As his diffident relationship with Laila sours by degrees and the clock counts down her life, Laila pulls away from L'Eden, even if she hasn't given up the quest for some of the treasures the group must seek. She takes Enrique and Zofia into her confidence about the fragility of her situation, and her reasons for continuing to help the group as they seek out The Divine Lyrics that she hopes will provide answers to stop her impending death. But what are Séverin's reasons, really? And after the revelation at the end of the first book, that Séverin isn't the heir to the house he believes he is, exactly who is he really?
The Silvered Serpents builds upon the complex story that Chokshi is trying to tell, showing us how each of her major characters strives to find a place and people with whom they fit. Since the first book, we felt that was L'Eden and with each other but the edges of this tapestry are badly frayed. Séverin's hubris in thinking it's his job to protect everyone from everything begins to rub them all the wrong way, especially Enrique, who becomes unsure whether that protection isn't really just a way to control everyone, with Séverin keeping all his players in a state of play, when and where he wants them. Yet through all this, Laila and Zofia shine. Zofia, who is so clearly on the high functioning autism spectrum, makes progress in her interactions with the others in this novel and begins to recognize her own strengths instead of just her weaknesses. And her emerging greatest strength is her great courage in wanting to help Laila. Laila is more defined in this book, less a femme fatale than an alluring, all-mothering figure. Laila is the one who knows how everyone wants and needs things, and yet she is also growing weary of putting up with Séverin and his growing callousness. Enrique also evolves in this novel, coming to see Hypnos, Séverin, and Zofia with clearer eyes.
I enjoyed this second book and found the introduction of Ruslan and Eva to be an interesting if predictable development. The revelations at the end of this novel offer insight into the revelations of the first novel and set up daunting possibilities for the third novel of the trilogy. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Chokshi closes out the trilogy.
I received a paper and digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Séverin has gone feral and the stakes are even higher now
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
In this book, we have the thief buddies™ coming together for their "one last mission." And let me tell you, Chokshi really took everything that she established in the first book and built on it spectacularly. There were so many more things at stake in this book and you can feel it in the characters' behavior. Everyone is just having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day in this book. But, that's what made it so good. The high stakes and the tension between the characters, particularly between Séverin and the rest of his team. Séverin has really evolved into this almost morally grey character. He's willing to do anything he can to reach the ending that he wants. Quite frankly, I think this made him an even more compelling character than he was before. Chokshi also took the time in this book to let us get to know the characters a little better. We find out things we didn't know (particularly about Madame Kore and somewhat Tristan) and we get a look into the evolution of their relationships with other people in the group. This is, once again, especially true of Séverin. The person that he has turned into in this book is almost unrecognizable, but at the same time it makes sense.I said it the last time in my review of the Gilded Wolves, but Chokshi has such a mind for vivid storytelling. The way that she is able to put you in a time and place just using words is dazzling. It felt like I was in the frigid palace in Siberia, or at the Russian ballet with Séverin and Laila. She is also fantastic at imparting the emotion of the characters so that you completely understand what they are going through. It is because of this, that the characters felt human. Gone are overpowered protagonists who seem to experience the world shallowly. It was all just very well done, and I really do applaud Chokshi for her knack for description.In short, if you read the Gilded Wolves and you weren't sure if you wanted to read the Silvered Serpents, don't hesitate! This book is everything the last book was and more. The changes we see taking place in the relationships of the characters, coupled with everything that is at stake make the story incredible. Authors need to take note, this is how you write a sequel that isn't boring. I don't think that this book ever dragged like the first one did at times. I enjoyed the first book, but I loved the sequel. I'm so excited to see where she takes the premise of the next book! I can promise you that I will be reading it, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 2, 2020
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 28, 2020
I said it the last time in my review of the Gilded Wolves, but Chokshi has such a mind for vivid storytelling. The way that she is able to put you in a time and place just using words is dazzling. It felt like I was in the frigid palace in Siberia, or at the Russian ballet with Séverin and Laila. She is also fantastic at imparting the emotion of the characters so that you completely understand what they are going through. It is because of this, that the characters felt human. Gone are overpowered protagonists who seem to experience the world shallowly. It was all just very well done, and I really do applaud Chokshi for her knack for description.
In short, if you read the Gilded Wolves and you weren't sure if you wanted to read the Silvered Serpents, don't hesitate! This book is everything the last book was and more. The changes we see taking place in the relationships of the characters, coupled with everything that is at stake make the story incredible. Authors need to take note, this is how you write a sequel that isn't boring. I don't think that this book ever dragged like the first one did at times. I enjoyed the first book, but I loved the sequel. I'm so excited to see where she takes the premise of the next book! I can promise you that I will be reading it, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Séverin has gone feral and the stakes are even higher now
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 28, 2020
In this book, we have the thief buddies™ coming together for their "one last mission." And let me tell you, Chokshi really took everything that she established in the first book and built on it spectacularly. There were so many more things at stake in this book and you can feel it in the characters' behavior. Everyone is just having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day in this book. But, that's what made it so good. The high stakes and the tension between the characters, particularly between Séverin and the rest of his team. Séverin has really evolved into this almost morally grey character. He's willing to do anything he can to reach the ending that he wants. Quite frankly, I think this made him an even more compelling character than he was before. Chokshi also took the time in this book to let us get to know the characters a little better. We find out things we didn't know (particularly about Madame Kore and somewhat Tristan) and we get a look into the evolution of their relationships with other people in the group. This is, once again, especially true of Séverin. The person that he has turned into in this book is almost unrecognizable, but at the same time it makes sense.Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 28, 2020
I said it the last time in my review of the Gilded Wolves, but Chokshi has such a mind for vivid storytelling. The way that she is able to put you in a time and place just using words is dazzling. It felt like I was in the frigid palace in Siberia, or at the Russian ballet with Séverin and Laila. She is also fantastic at imparting the emotion of the characters so that you completely understand what they are going through. It is because of this, that the characters felt human. Gone are overpowered protagonists who seem to experience the world shallowly. It was all just very well done, and I really do applaud Chokshi for her knack for description.
In short, if you read the Gilded Wolves and you weren't sure if you wanted to read the Silvered Serpents, don't hesitate! This book is everything the last book was and more. The changes we see taking place in the relationships of the characters, coupled with everything that is at stake make the story incredible. Authors need to take note, this is how you write a sequel that isn't boring. I don't think that this book ever dragged like the first one did at times. I enjoyed the first book, but I loved the sequel. I'm so excited to see where she takes the premise of the next book! I can promise you that I will be reading it, and I'm really looking forward to it.
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Dolorosa
A fabulously twisty heist novel, and a deftly written condemnation of the iniquities of empire
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 28, 2020Katie Soderlund
Gorgeous and heartbreaking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 28, 2020
